Kickstart Your Passion Project: 4 Essential Mindsets for Success
Do you have a passion project that you haven't found the time or courage to start? Maybe you've dreamed of launching a photography business, starting a travel YouTube channel, diving into fashion blogging, or venturing into freelance writing.
What if you started that project today? Imagine what you could achieve in ten years.
Reflecting on my 20s, it wasn’t a lack of time that held me back but rather my singular focus on my optometry career. It wasn’t until my 30s that I began enriching my life with designing mentorship camps for students, running a public speaking club, and creating this blog site. I often wonder how different my life might have been if I had started my passion projects earlier.
But it's never too late.
Pursuing your passions is essential to a fulfilled life, but getting started can be daunting. Here are four crucial mindsets to help you get started today.
(If you prefer an infographic, click here)
1) Take the First Step
Recently, a friend shared his hesitation about launching an ASMR channel. He was unsure how to begin. My advice was simple – just start.
It’s easy to get bogged down in planning every detail: which platform to use, what niche to target, or what type of ASMR is trending. It's also easy to brood over what others might think. This overthinking can paralyze you into inaction.
The truth is, you'll never have all the answers until you dive in and start experimenting. As you produce more work, you will learn along the way.
Make the First Investment
Hastin, a dear friend and fellow optometrist, has always been passionate about tattoos. He decided to become an artist himself and, after just one year, he has amassed over 1,200 followers on Instagram. (Check out his excellent work on IG!)
When asked how he began, Hastin mentioned his initial step was purchasing his first inking tool. Once he invested time and money in this tool, he felt compelled to continue learning, researching, and working on his passion project.
2) You Don't Have to Be an Expert
You can spend months trying to become an “expert” and continue delaying your passion project. Sure, you may not be an expert. But if you’re passionate about a subject, you probably know more about it than many people.
My point is that you don't have to be an expert to produce valuable content. Even if you are just a few steps ahead of a beginner, your insights and experiences can offer significant value to many people.
For more inspiration, check out "Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon.
3) Let Go of Perfectionism
"90% of everything is crap" - Theodore Sturgeon
Obsessing over perfection can stifle your passion project before it even begins. Accept that some of your work will be great and some will be bad. Instead, consistently creating new works helps you continually hone your skills.
Below is a fascinating story to illustrate this point:
Quantity Over Quality
On the first day of photography class, Jerry Uelsmann, a professor at the University of Florida, divided his students into two groups. Group A was instructed to submit 100 photos by the end of the term, while Group B was to submit one perfect photo.
By the end of the term, the quantity group produced the best photos because they spent the semester actively taking pictures, experimenting, and learning from their mistakes. In contrast, the quality group focused on theorizing about perfection and ended up with little to show for their efforts other than one mediocre photo.
In addition to superior results, you can probably guess which group had more fun and which one experienced more anxiety.
4) Remember Your Why
Let's not forget why we are engaging in this creative passion. The creative process itself is rewarding.
As Rick Rubin wisely put it:
"We're not playing to win, we're playing to play. And ultimately, playing is fun."
So dive in, embrace the learning process, and enjoy the creative journey.
What Are You Waiting For?
Starting a passion project can be daunting, but with a little courage and the right mindset, you can turn your visions into reality. Take that first step today, invest in your passion, and always remember why you started. Your future self will thank you for it.
Join me on a journey to redesign life, one step at a time! 👊
Member discussion